Liverpool ran out deserved but narrow winners during a a scrappy Merseyside Derby on Wednesday.

Three points were all that mattered to the Reds heading into the game, having been beaten in back-to-back matches before the international break.

Everton were never going to go down easy at Anfield having been on a nine-match unbeaten run themselves.

The feelgood factor is back for the Blues since seeing David Moyes reappointed in February and they will have headed to Liverpool confident of an upset.

James Tarkowski red card, Luis Diaz offside, Jordan Pickford incident - Liverpool vs Everton referee review	What James Tarkowski did at full-time after tackle as Jordan Pickford approaches Darwin Nunez	Jordan Pickford speaks out on Merseyside derby decisions and James Tarkowski response to tackle

Just 11 minutes in, all of that should have gone up in smoke.

James Tarkowski should have been sent off after a shocking tackle left Alexis Mac Allister writhing in pain.

Somehow, referee Sam Barrott and VAR Paul Tierney let Tarkowski off the hook with only a yellow card.

Having escaped an early red card, Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford explained how the centre-back reacted later on.



Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

After the game, Jamie Carragher spotted Tarkowksi talking to Mac Allister on the pitch at full-time.

And according to Pickford, the Everton captain has already apologised to the victim of his lunge.

MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES

“It’s probably a bit high force in this day and age, but he’s done what he’s done,” the goalkeeper told evertonfc.com.

“He’s apologised after the game and the VAR say it’s not a red card, so that’s the decision.”

READ MORE: Everton legend Duncan Ferguson agrees with Jamie Carragher over James Tarkowksi tackle vs Liverpool

Typically resolute from Pickford, who is hardly going to come out and say his teammate hugely got away with one.

It’s good to hear Tarkowski recognised the awful nature of his challenge and apologised to Mac Allister, but there’s no way he should have stayed on the pitch.

According to Everton, there were actually two hugely controversial moments during Wednesday’s derby.

The Blues were furious that Diogo Jota’s winner stood after seeing Luis Diaz stood in an offside position during the build-up.

Despite the rules being clear that Diaz was not offside at all, David Moyes was left fuming at full-time and Pickford conceded that the Toffees felt hard done by.

“In the moment, obviously, I can’t see what’s happening,” he said.

We’re disappointed with the decision, but they can’t always be perfect.”

It takes some brass-neck from Everton to complain at all after Tarkowski was allowed to get away with what he did.
For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.